Unenclosed Stair

[hughdint]

I have a Garden Style Apartment project in NC that has an unenclosed breezeway with a single stair. At one end of the breezeway we have storage closets. We have operated on the principal that this is an unenclosed egress stair (open on one side that leads to a public way).The breezeway(more accurately the "landing") and unenclosed exterior stair is separated from the rest of the building (units) via a 1 hour construction (when connecting less than 4 stories) with fire-rated wall assembly UL-U311, and with 45 minute rated doors, and (for the storage closets) by 10’ of distance and 45 minute rated doors.Further we are protecting the buildings with a NFPA 13R sprinkler system.The code official saying that our "stair" is open to the "corridor" and not to a "public way".He says we must provide a stair enclosure and get rid of the storage closets.We must have storage closets in order to meet a federal program that requires exterior storage closets for each unit.It appears that even enclosed stairs need to exit on a public way so how does one do this?It is no excuse but we have built literally dozens of these buildings in other jurisdictions in NC over the course of 20 years with no problem.Is it back to the drawing board or is there any way that this configuration will work.See attached planView attachment 2593

View attachment 2142

Sample Plan.pdf

Sample Plan.pdf

 

[cda]

Welcome

Have any Cherwine setting around?

 

[cda]

What building code and edition is this built under ??, and I take it is in plan review

Did they give a section reference when rejecting?

 

[cda]

I would ask for code references, especially for the store rooms

Looks like a typical set up.

Are the breeze ways sprinkled??

 

[mtlogcabin]

I am wondering if you meet the 125 foot maximum travel distance from the most remote point on the third floor?

 

[jdfruit]

I can understand the BO's concern for "open to corridor" issue, the stairway is buried inside the building with way more than customary "landings" adjacent to the stairway. The plans don't have keynotes so it is a bit difficult to determine how open at the breezeway ends. With one hour construction in the breezeway, the BO may have mistaken the breezeway for a corridor.

Also, the single stair is one exit access, this may be a problem; Table 1015.1 limits one exit to spaces with max occupant loads, R is 10 occupants max. Occupant load per Table 1004.1.2 is 1 occupant per 200 gross sq ft. The 4 units above the first floor have well more than 2000 sq ft so 2 exit stairs should be required.

 

[steveray]

I also am wondering if the 1 unprotected exit is allowable and if that is the issue.....If it is not an "exit enclosure" it doesn't matter what it opens to. If it is an exit enclosure, I agree that it needs to be protected to the discharge with a few exceptions...